Tube perforating machine



Nov. 9, 1948. H. F. TEMPLE 2,453,681

' TUBE PERFORATING MACHINE Filed Dec. 14, 1946 2 Sheets Sheet 1 J9 l l Hawaii? Emple BY 2 4 7 Gttomeg H. F. TEMPLE TUBE PERF,ORATING MACHINE Nov. 9, 1948.

' 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 14 1946 88 89 ISnventor Haroldf 7mp/e Gttorneg drive shaft reciprocates the rod sufliciently to advance the tube 29 across the bottom of the chute while in contact with the stops 2i and until the tube is properly mounted on the mandrel as shown in Fig. 1. I

Immediately after the mounting operation has been completed, the cover or operating rim 3| of the perforating machine 23 is oscillated, causing operation of the perforating mechanism and perforating the tube. The rim is oscillated as shown, by the arm 32 projecting therefrom and pulled by the spring 33 to carry the roller 34 of the arm into engagement with the cam 35 on the shaft l 9. As the mounting rod 24 moves back on its return stroke, the perforated tube is dismounted from the mandrel.

Such dismounting operation is performed by suitable gripping members as 36, 31 each shown as terminating in a suitably shaped jaw 38, the jaws of said members being normally pulled to ward each other as by the spring 39. In the form shown, the member 31 is provided with a laterally extending sleeve 4!! slidably and pivotally mounted on the fixed guide shaft 4! which is fixed at one end to the side extension iii of the chute and at the other end to the frame of the perforating machine 23. Fitted loosely into the transverse groove 42 of the sleeve (Fig. 4) and also slidably pivoted on the shaft ll is the lug 43 of the gripping member 36, whereby the members 36 and 31 are pivoted on the shaft 4! and are also slidable as a unit thereon. For reciprocating said members, a pin M projecting from the sleeve enters the slot 45 of the lever 46 which is pivoted at a fixed point 4'! and engages the cam 48 on the shaft l9, being pulled into such engagement by the spring 50. In the position of the parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the gripping jaws are closed on the tube 20, preparatory to the removal of the tube from the mandrel. As the lever d6 moves in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, the sleeve 40 and the gripping members together with the gripped tube 20 are moved toward the receding rod 24 to dismount the tube.

Means are provided to separate the jaws 38 and thereby to release the dismounted tube near the end of the dismounting movement of the gripping members. As shown, said mean-s takes the form of a pin 5| fixed to and projecting from the shaft 4| and entering the cam groove 52 of the sleeve 4!], in addition to a fixed member 53 in the path of the gripping member 36. It will be seen that as the tube is dismounted, the gripping members turn as a unit on the shaft 4| by reason of the pin 5! moving along the helical cam groove 52. As the dismounted tube is brought over the chute II, the upper end of the gripping member 36 is brought into a position adjacent the fixed member 53, whereafter continued rotation of the sleeve 40 during the end of the movement of the sleeve along the shaft 4| forces said member 36 against the fixed member 53 to the dash-dot line position thereof shown in Fig. 3, while the member 37 continues to rotate toward said fixed member relatively to the member 36 and against the action of the spring 39 to open the jaws. The perforated tube 20 thus released drops on to the end part of the chute past the stops 2| and rolls out of the machine.

On the return movement of the sleeve 4!), the member 36 is removed from the member 53 and the jaws are closed by the spring 39. Means are therefore provided again to open the jaws at the M of the rings.

Each of the cam rings bears against both cy-' end of the return movement of the sleeve to permit the next tube to be mounted on the mandrel 22 prior to the mounting movement of the rod 2 2. As shown, said means takes the form of a double wedge 54 having upwardly converging sides 55 and 5B and which is reciprocated vertically, first to engage the upper ends of the gripping members 36 and 37 and to draw said ends together to open the jaws, and then to release said ends after the tube is mounted on the mandrel thereby permitting the spring 39 to close the jaws on the tube. The arm 5'! projecting from the wedge is pivoted at a fixed point 58 and the roller 59 at the end of the arm is pulled into e agement with the cam 69 on the shaft It by the spring 6|. When the jaws 38 are closed upon the tube and after the tube has been perforated by the Operation of the arm 32, the dismounting movement of the gripping members is repeated during the next cycle of operation-s on the next tube.

It will be seen that in the form of the invention just described, tubes need merely be fed to the chute l l, the remaining operations being automatically performed. It will also be seen that a tube is mounted on the mandrel, then perforated and dismounted on each revolution of the shaft Hi.

In that form of the invention shown in Figs. 5

/ and 6, the handle 65 corresponds to the arm 32 and may be operated manually or mechanically as desired, and the mechanism employed in the perforating machine 23 isshown in detail. Said mechanism comprises the rim or cover 3! previously mentioned and provided with a depending flange 66 in sliding contact with the outer face 61 of the frame 68. The rim is of annular form having a central opening therein for the passage of the mandrel, said opening being enlarged to re-- ceive the removable plate 64 fixed to the top of the frame and serving to maintain the underlying parts in position and to protect the interior mechanism from dirt and dust. The rim carries the arm or handle 65 and is rotated or oscillated thereby. Arranged in a suitable annular groove 69 extending downwardly from the top surface H! of the frame. are one or more cam rings as H 12. Preferably, the upper face 13 of the uppermost ring 7H is coplanar with the surface HI whereby the flat under face of the cover or rim 3! may rest on the surfaces Hi and 13 and leave no space for the entrance therebetween of punchings which might interfere with the operation of the mechanism. The cover 3| is removably secured to the cam rings for movement therewith as a unit and relatively to the frame 68, as by means of suitable screws passing into the threaded holes lindrical sides of the frame groove 69. The outer face 15 of the ring bears against the outer face of the groove while the unmutilated part l6 of the inner face 11 of the ring bears against the inner face or edge of the groove. The ring is thereby held accurately for rotation within the groove. For the'widest range of adaptability of the machine, the combined circumferential length of each cam part 18 and its bearing part 16 should be the same as that of the other cam parts and is determined by the least circumferential distance between any two holes to be punched in the tube regardless of the size or shape of the hole or the difference in spacing between the holes. ever, for progressive operation of the cam rings (Figs- 9 and 10) the distance between any two How- :holes should :be a r whole number :multiple of the K distance between :the closest: holes. :For oscillation "of: therrings, this limitation .does not apply and :the i holes :may :he ;spaoed.1any .desired dis again by the distance between the two-holes which I are closest together .ci'rcumferentially' l of the tube.

On the rotation orroscillationnfcthe cam:rings, the radially arranged punches 1&8 are :moved in- Wardlytopunch the holes. Eachof-the punches preferably-hasa-roundedouter end 8! pressed into engagement with the cam;part l8 bya: suitableaspring l9iabutting-xat one end against-the shoulder 82 of the punchaand at :the other end abutting against theinner end of [the hole 83 in the frame into which thespring is removably inserted,-the reducedintermediate .body portion 84 of the punch-being slidably supported in the smallerradial-hole :85 .in the .frame 68. While the body portions-B4 andthe outer-end portions .8laof the punches mayallbe-identicaL'the inner .end portion ofthe .punchdsiground to the exact diameterand shapesrequiredto punch a hole of theselected size andshape, and terminates in a tapered pointBfi. As bestiseen in-Fig. l0, punches may .be omitted where :necessary to attain varying spaces betweenholes, though for progressive intermittentrotationaofthe rings, the cam parts.

are all of the same length and the punch ends 8| drop into thedeepe-stportions of the cam parts successively, each movement of the rings being of the same angular-amount required for that purpose and serving to complete a perforating operationon a tube.

In the form of the machine shown in Figs. 5

.and 6, the tube holding .mandrel comprises a numberof parts, only certain of which need be replaced when tubes of different diameters-are tobe perforated. 'Thehollowmandrel support 81 (Fig. 6) is removably secured in'the central opening vof'theframe'68 as'by means of thehollow screw bolt'88 having the'longitudinal opening'BS therethrough communicating with the longitudinal opening SIOcofI'thesupportfifll'. A series of radial holes 9| in the supportcommunicate with the opening-90 and with.the-radial-holes 92 of the removable. mandrel sleeve 9.3. .Theholes 192 inthe sleevereceive the respective punch ends-and cooperate therewithto punch the holes cleanly in the tube, the punchings dropping through the holes M, 95] and 89 out through the base 94 of the machine. A shoulder as 95 is made on the .man drel support to engage the lower end of the man drel sleeve 93, the sleeve being held in place firmly by the nuts 96, 91 screwed on the reduced upper end 98 of the mandrel support. The nuts are preferably rounded at their upper parts to permit easy insertion of the tube 20 on the mandrel preparatory to the perforating operation on the tube.

It will be seen that by this arrangement, the mandrel sleeve 93 and its support 81 are readily removable and replaceable by others of a difierent diameter having a different arrangement of radial holes. Normally, only the sleeve need be replaced by one having the same inner diameter and a difierent outer diameter when the tube size is to be changed. If the spacing, sizes or shapes of the holes, or the number of holes are to be changed, it may be necessary also to add, remove or replace punches where required as well as to change the sleeve.

To: operate the' machine: mechanicallyafter? the proper cam rings, punches and mandrel sleeve have been: supplied, the machine may be setup with theaxisof the mandrel substantially horizontal. and the arm or handle. 65 oscillated by taccomplished-asshown inFig. 8 by the continuously voperating.motorutrli through the reduction :gearing I00, the crank HH =and*the connecting .rod )2 connected atone end to. the crank and .attheother end to' the cover 3|.

As shownin Fig. 9, progressive rotation of the cover 3l maybe attained through the ratchet wheel i03:thercon,the pawl lfl l carried by the connecting rodll05 and the crank lfll, reduction gearing i l 00 and motor 99.

For manual oscillation of the cover. 3i through a definite predetermined-angle, a stop pin I06 projects from theirame68 (Fig. (i) into the path .of-the lug lli'i extending from the handle 55. Said pin limits the movement of the cover in the punch-operating direction, to rotate the cam rings just enough toforce the punches inwardly by-movement of the cam parts 18 along the punch ends-8l, themovement being insufficient to move the unmutilated parts l6 which are adjacent the cam parts,1into-engagement with the punch. ends. On the return movement ofrthe handle .65, the punch ends finallydrop into the deepest portions of the respective camparts l8 and prevent furthermovement of the handle'in the same direction.

In the simplified form of theinvention shown in Fig, 'l',.-a single CamIiIIgiS'ShOWII and a single punch, the mandrel illSbeing also shown integral with the mandrelsupport to operate upon a tubeota-given diameter only. .Inwthat case, the annular opening 18!) between the mandrel and the frame. is just sufficient to receive thetube, whereas in theform shown in Figs. 5and 6,.the diameter .of .the corresponding opening H0 is much .greater, forobviousreasons, than thatrequired .to receive the smallest tube.

It willrbe understood thatthe tube may. be of any cross sectional shape such as for example, squarapolygcnal, ellipticaliand the.like, and that the mandrel and the other operating parts. may be,propor.tioned accordingly; .that the operative parts .of .the punches may .be .of any desired shapes such as square, rectangular, elliptical or key-slotted or the like to punch holes of the corresponding size and shape; that when such shape is other than circular, the body portions 84 of the punch are preferably square and slide in square holes in the frame to punch the holes in the proper upright positions; that any combination of holes may be punched of different spacings, sizes and shapes; that any number of cam rings may be used to punch the corresponding number of circumferential rows of holes and that if the cam rings are properly designed, the machine can operate by progressive movement of the cover regardless of the number of holes to be punched in any row or the spacing thereof within certain limits.

Various other obvious changes may be made from the specific forms of the invention illustrated without departing from the spirit of the invention defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A perforating machine comprising an annular cam ring having a cam portion on its inner edge, a punch mounted for radial movement relatively to the cam ring and spring'pressed into engagement with the cam portion, means for rotating the ring, and a hollow mandrel arranged axially of the ring and in the path of movement of the punch and comprising a support, a removable perforated sleeve and means for removably securing the sleeve around the support.

2. A perforating machine comprising an annular cam ring having a cam portion on its inner edge, a punch mounted for radial movement relatively to the cam ring and spring-pressed into engagement with the cam portion, means for rotating the ring, a hollow mandrel arranged axially of the ring and in the path of movement of the punch, and a hollow threaded member removably fixing the mandrel in place and communicating with the interior of the mandrel.

3. A perforating machine comprising an annular cam ring having a cam portion on its inner edge, a punch mounted for radial movement relatively to the cam ring and spring-pressed into engagement with the cam portion, means for rotating the ring, and a hollow mandrel arranged axially of the ring and in the path of movement of the punch and comprising a support, a removable outer sleeve and means for securing the sleeve removably to the mandrel, the machine including a frame having a central opening therethrough receiving the mandrel and,having an annular groove receiving the cam ring, and a hollow bolt entering the mandrel and engaging the frame to fix the mandrel to the frame.

4. A perforating machine comprising an annular cam ring having a cam portion on its inner edge, a punch mounted for radial movement relatively to the cam ring and spring-pressed into engagement with the cam portion, means for rotating the ring, a hollow mandrel arranged axially of the ring and in the path of movement of the punch, the means for rotating the ring comprising an annular cover for the ring having a central opening therein for the passage of the mandrel therethrough and means securing the cover removably to the ring, said cover having a depending outer flange, and a frame engaging and guiding the flange, the ring and the punch in the respective movements thereof, said frame supporting the mandrel.

5. A tube perforating machine comprising a perforated mandrel, tube-mounting means to mount a tube on the mandrel, tube-perforating means including a punch mounted for movement radially of the tube and means moving the punch into a perforation of the mandrel, and tube-dismounting means to dismount the tube from the mandrel comprising a pair of spring-pulled tubegripping jaws and means for opening the jaws.

6. A tube perforating machine comprising a perforated mandrel, tube-mounting means to mount a tube on the mandrel, tube-perforating means including a punch mounted for movement radially of the tube and means moving the punch into a perforation of the mandrel, and tube-dismounting means to dismount the tube from the mandrel comprising a pair of spring-pulled jaws, means for reciprocating the jaws as a unit axially of the mandrel, means for opening the jaws temporarily at one end of the movement of the jaws and means for again opening the jaws at the other end of the movement thereof.

'7. A tube perforating machine comprising a perforated mandrel, tube-mounting means to mount a tube on the mandrel, tube-perforating means including a punch mounted for movement radially of the tube and means moving the punch into a perforation of the mandrel, tube-dismounting means to dismount the tube from the mandrel, the mounting means comprising a reciprocating rod aligned with the mandrel, the tube dismounting means comprising a pair of reciprocatory jaws and means to open the jaws at each end of the stroke thereof, and the punchmoving means comprising a cam ring concentric with the mandrel and engaging the outer end of the punch.

HAROLD F. TEMPLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 666,905 Packer Jan. 29, 1901 1,595,678 Murphy Aug. 10, 1926 2,354,860 Hartsook Aug. 1, 1944 2,419,534 Burleson Apr. 29, 1947 2,423,791 Nelson July 8, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 3,587 Great Britain Nov. 28, 1872 226,657 Germany Oct. 10, 1910 280,475 Germany Nov. 16, 1914 

